Folia Theologica et Canonica 9. 31/23 (2020)

Recensions

348

RECENSIONS

of the exclusively dedicated life to God; furthermore, the detailed description of the unique activity and mission of the parish work, by a special way of care of faithful in faith and sacraments. Already the initial question of the first chapter: “Who is a human being?” (pp. 21-38) touches such a problematic field, which arises in every people of the 21st century who thinks about his/her life. From the time of the enlightenment more and more initiations intend to creating a new definition to essence of the human being. The Author on the Biblical and Christian anthropological basis gives a most concise answer: “The teaching on conscience is an important element of Christion concept on humanity. Because not the man himself define the rules of his life, however, in the depths of his own consciousness he encounters with a higher law. It calls him for « love and do good and avoid evil»” (p. 37). This is complemented by the second chapter: Law - Moral Manipulation (pp. 39-46). Peter Erdő presents precisely the special justification of the acceptance of law and morality in the 21st century, which based on the objective reality in the 21st century (p. 46). He enlightens all of these sufficiently, not only with arguments of legal theory, canon law, but also with theological and biblical arguments. It is clear that the Holy Scripture, Tradition, sacraments, the teaching mission, and the other forms of sanctification are such fundamental abilities of the Church which essentially determine her work and activity. This main intention, which also refers to the final horizon of the Church’s activity, determines the work of all ecclesiastical offices, which can be defined in the salvation of souls as an ecclesiastical public good.

It can be seen that the arising questions in Card. Péter Erdő’s new book, and the answers to them, given with theological sensitivity, not only provide additional aspects for the canon lawyer readers, but fundamentally refer to the day-to-day situation of Christ-faithful, the dramatic experience of rejection the classical values in the society around us and those clear answers which can be given according to our Catholic faith. A very good aspect of this is given by the novel explanation of the participation of faithful in the threefold mission of Christ in the baptism, reflecting to biblical and to the early ecclesiastical tradition (pp. 274-276); presentation of the particular - common - charism of the college of presbyters, which must be exercised with obtained Soul of Christ’ grace, with personal humility for those who entrusted to them, with attention, and with responsibility need to be exercised (pp. 277-284). Closely related all these to the unique role of pastoral work which take place at the parishes. A means of doing so is the constant care of the faithful who entrusted to their own pastor (pp. 351-353, 368-371).

None the less, the majority of chapters of this new volume has been published in form of independent article (in Hungarian or in other languages), we can hold a comprehensive work in our hands, thanks to logical structure, to the textual and structural revising of the original material, to the frequent cross-